Read with Pride

Pride Month is the perfect time to share our favourite LGBTQ+ positive books for children and young people. These books highlight family dynamics and stories to help develop the values of acceptance and kindness towards themselves and others, regardless of identity.

Jamie by L. D. Lapinski

Jamie is a happy 11-year-old non-binary kid who likes nothing better than hanging out with best friends Daisy and Ash. But when the trio find out that they will be separated into one school for boys and another for girls, their friendship suddenly seems at risk. Deciding to take matters into their own hands, the friends’ efforts to raise awareness eventually becomes a rooftop protest against the binary rules for the local schools. Jamie soon realises that, if they don’t figure out a way forwards, they might be at risk of losing both their friends forever.

Read with Pride by Lucy Powrie

Olivia Santos is determined to win the National Book Club Award. Luckily, she’s the mastermind behind The Paper & Hearts Society, a book club that she runs for her friends. But when Olivia discovers the need for more LGBTQ+ titles in her school library, an idea forms which has the potential to inspire a new book club, encourage more students to read, and make the library as inclusive as possible. With two book clubs to run, exams to prepare for, and a girlfriend, just how long will it be before Olivia burns out? After all, creating a book club and trying to get the ReadWithPride hashtag to get noticed is going to take a lot of energy. Sometimes, when you’re in too deep, it’s up to your friends to look out for you.

ABC Pride by Elly Barns

Discover the meaning behind the colours of the Pride flag and the origins of the annual Pride celebration. ‘ABC Pride’ introduces young readers to key concepts and inclusive terminology, helping to foster understanding and allyship.

The Frog’s Kiss by James Mayhew

A reimagining of the classic tale, ‘The Frog Prince’ that proves anyone can have their happily ever after! Inspired by a picture he sees in a book, a lonely frog decides to go in search of a kiss. But will he ever find a less who will make his heart skip a beat? Or does this frog’s fairy-tale ending involve someone unexpected?

LGBTQ+ Rights by Spilsbury, Louise

LGBTQ+ movements through history are explored chronologically. A selection of key civil rights moments and movements are broken down into short blocks of text that explain the reasons why LGBTQ+ people have faced prejudice, violence and closed minds, and the ways they have overcome many obstacles on the path to equality. It looks at historical examples, such as attitudes in ancient Egypt and early LGBTQ+ organisations along with modern events, such as HIV/AIDS, Pride marches, same-sex marriage and transgender rights.

LGBTQ+ spotlight No 3-Julie Cohen and Emma Donoghue

Wokingham Borough Libraries have been proud to promote equality and diversity within its activities for many years.

This is the second in a new series where library staff will be profiling authors whose books they have read and enjoyed.

Please also see our list of recommended reads at https://wokingham.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/MSGTRN/WPAC/HOME

Julie Cohen

Julie is a local author to us living in Berkshire, but she originally comes from a small town called Maine in the US.  Her descriptions of her town in Maine reflect the setting of her last book, Louis and Louise; a small town, where there is a constant smell of sulphur from a paper mill.  She found Maine to be rather quiet so she made stuff up and she always had her head in a book, writing her first novel aged eleven.

Julie studied English at Brown University and Cambridge University when she came to England she researched fairies in Victorian and Edwardian Children’s literature at Reading University.  She then went on to teach English at secondary school.  In her spare time she started to write fun, sexy stories and after a few rejections she sold to Harlequins Mills and Boon.  Now she writes full time and is a popular speaker and teacher of creative writing. Her novels have been translated into seventeen languages and sold a million copies worldwide. Her books Together and Dear Thing were both Richard and Judy Book Club picks.

Julie’s last book, Louis and Louise focused on one baby but two different timelines.  In the first timeline the baby is a boy, Louis, and in the second timeline the baby is a girl, Louise.  It reflects on how children are gender stereotyped from birth and the expectations of that child because of their gender, it is a fascinating read.  Julie’s next book, Spirited, is released in hardback on 9th July 2020.  Here is the synopsis:

“Viola has an impossible talent. Searching for meaning in her grief, she uses her photography to feel closer to her late father, taking solace from the skills he taught her – and to keep her distance from her husband. But her pictures seem to capture things invisible to the eye . . .

“Henriette is a celebrated spirit medium, carrying nothing but her secrets with her as she travels the country. When she meets Viola, a powerful connection is sparked between them – but Victorian society is no place for reckless women.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, invisible threads join Viola and Henriette to another woman who lives in secrecy, hiding her dangerous act of rebellion in plain sight.

Faith. Courage. Love. What will they risk for freedom?”

Julie is also a Vice President of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and a founder member of our Rainbow Chapter for LGBQIA+ writers. I am very proud to be Patron of local literacy charity ABC to Read, who help children in Berkshire primary schools learn to read.

Julie came out as bisexual in her 40s.  Here is a quote from Julie about her sexuality.

“I’d known for a while that I was attracted to more than one gender. But I never felt the need to talk about it publicly, or to define my sexuality for other people. Looking back at my teens and twenties—the time when many people are discovering their sexuality—I really didn’t know that bisexuality even existed. I grew up in a small town in Maine in the 70s and 80s. I had gay male friends, but I didn’t know any out lesbians. I only ever heard the word ‘bisexual’ applied to David Bowie, who clearly lived by different rules than ordinary mortals.

I knew I liked men, so I figured I must be straight. When I had intense feelings towards women — including emotional and physical attraction — I defined them as friendship. Gradually I came to realise that it was more than that.

But by then I was in a relationship with a man. I was building a career, negotiating a marriage, being a parent. I hardly had time to breathe. Why bother to talk about my sexuality?”

Emma Donoghue

Emma is an Irish writer, born in Dublin in 1969.  She is the youngest of eight children and attended a Catholic convent school.  She has a BA in English and French from the University College Dublin and in 1990 she moved to England and gained a PhD from Cambridge University.  She became a writer aged 23 when she received a two-novel deal with Penguin.  In 1998 Emma settled in London, Ontario, Canada where she lives with her partner, Chris Roulston and their son Finn and daughter Una.

Emma has not only written fiction novels but she also writes short-stories and drama for the screen, stage and radio.  She has won many awards across her writing including her script for Room won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, the Irish Film and Television Academy Award for Best Screenplay and many others.  Her screenplay for Room was also nominated for an Academy Award, BAFTA and Golden Globe.  Her novels have also been shortlisted for the Booker Prize, Women’s Prize for Fiction, Stonewall Book Award and many more.

Pride Heart Workshop

Pride Heart Workshop

This workshop is a really basic tutorial on outlining. In this workshop you are able to work with more freedom, you can pick the shapes and colours you would like to add around the heart. As it is a pride flag rainbow colours are recommended and it is fun to blend the edges of the colours.

Take a strip of white card (paper can also be used). The size depends on how big you would like the make the heart. The one show in the example is the length of an A4 sheet of card (28cm) and 5mm thick.

Fold the strip in half. The fold will be the bottom of the heart.

Glue the two ends together and hold in place in the shape of a heart.

If you own a corkboard and pins I recommend using them as this is easier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wait for it to dry fully.

When dry, glue the heart to the centre of a piece of paper.

Take the rainbow colours and decorate freestyle. I’ve use tight coils, loose coils, coils with tails and curved strips. Try to blend the colours at the edges.

Celebrating Wokingham Pride: In Need of LGBT Support?

In need of LGBT+ support?

MyUmbrella is a volunteer led support group based in Reading, Berkshire for the lesser known LGBT+ identities. We were launched at Reading Pride 2015 by Reading Pride & our aim is to educate, support & socialise. We also aim to signpost those who require the support and advice from other organisation to the relevant services.

https://www.myumbrella.org.uk

Support U is now a leading resource for those needing help or requiring information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) related issues.

Our dedicated support team provide specialist resources for LGBT people and those affected by LGBT related issues. Our team can assist with concerns ranging from employment to sexual health and homelessness to counselling.

https://www.supportu.org.uk

Call 0118 321 9111

Completely confidential telephone helpline. We can help with a variety of topics from homelessness to domestic abuse. We are available Monday to Friday at various times. So why not get in touch today!

MindOut is a mental health service run by and for lesbians, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer people.

We work to improve the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ communities and to make mental health a community concern.

https://www.mindout.org.uk/get-support/

01273 234839

info@mindout.org.uk

 

akt supports lgbtq+ young people aged 16-25 in the UK who are experiencing homelessness or living in a hostile environment.

 

We help LGBTQ+ young people find safe homes and can support with things like employment, education and training, in an environment that celebrates LGBTQ+ identities.

https://www.akt.org.uk/get-help

How we can help

At Switchboard we provide an information, support and referral service for lesbians, gay men and bisexual and trans people – and anyone considering issues around their sexuality and/or gender identity.

https://switchboard.lgbt/help/

Mermaids supports gender-diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care.

Transgender and gender-variant children and teens need support and understanding, as well as the freedom to explore their gender identity. Whatever the outcome, Mermaids is committed to helping families navigate the challenges they may face.

https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/contact-us/